- 05/03/2026
- Rohit Mishra
When you start a skincare brand, you try to figure out the products that’ll work the best for your business. Most brands get confused about whether they should launch face cream or serum first. Both these products are trending in the skincare market. However, their production costs and formulas can vary.
Brands also need to educate their audiences about these products and encourage customers to include them in their skin routine. Both face serums vs face creams differ in these aspects only. More insights on these points have been provided in this blog.
What Is a Face Serum?
Face serum is a clear liquid infused with natural extracts and actives. The botanical ingredients used in the face serum can be formulated together to provide skin brightening, anti-ageing, hydration, and other benefits to the users.
Face serums are usually lightweight formulas yet concentrated enough to deliver the results quickly. So, their pricing is usually on the higher side, even for small-sized packages.
Business Advantages of Launching Serums
The premium pricing of the face serums makes them lucrative for the brands. Customers perceive them as highly valuable and effective products. So, brands can utilise this to project the face serums as the main product in their product range.
Challenges With Serums
Face serums haven’t penetrated the skincare market as face creams have. So, the brands need to spend more on educating the audience on how to use them. People have been using basic moisturisers and face creams for decades. So, their inclination towards these products can affect the overall sales of the face serums.
What Is a Face Cream?
Face creams are emulsion-based products with a creamy texture. They come in different consistencies and ingredients based on the desired results and customer preferences.
Their main purpose is to hydrate the skin and support its natural barrier. It’s a daily essential for most people and can suit most skin types. Some brands also introduce multiple face creams with minor tweaks and target audiences who prefer a product formulated for their skin type and concerns.
Business Advantages of Launching Creams
Brands can explain the uses of face creams to their customers easily. They can sell it as a daily product and share packages of higher volumes to earn more. Face creams are mostly formulated to target families and are sold in bulk. So, brands can earn a decent profit from this product by positioning it as a family-oriented product.
Challenges With Creams
When comparing face serum vs face cream, we must also analyse the challenges that come with the face creams. Almost all the brands have included face cream in their product line. So, the competition is heavy, which also puts pricing pressure on the brands. Brands must be able to define the Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of their face creams to stand out in the market.
Serum vs Cream: Business‑Side Comparison
The business-side comparison between face cream vs face serum is given below for your reference:
Serum vs Cream: Profit Impact
- Serums: The higher price tag associated with serums allows brands to earn higher profit margins. They can sell the face serums in small packages and earn high profits through bulk sales.
- Creams: Brands can sell face creams in high volumes and earn decent profits. The tighter price bands and low margins reduce the overall profitability of face creams.
Serum vs Cream: Who Is It For?
- Serums: Face serums are for the urban audiences who check the ingredients list and labels minutely before purchasing any product. So, they work for the customers who are more concerned about their skin.
- Creams: Face creams are for the broad audience or masses who are looking for the basic benefits of face creams. They are more appealing to first-time buyers and family-oriented audiences.
Serum + Cream: Routine & Upsell
- Serums: After introducing face serums, brands can also add face cleaners, toners, and creams to complete the skincare routine. This allows them to scale their production without any issues.
- Creams: The brands can earn the trust of their customers by introducing highly effective creams initially. Once the trust is built, they can upsell using face serums and specific treatment products.
Serum vs Cream: Which Is Best For First Launch?
Now let’s see whether brands should launch serum or cream first:
Premium Brands: Lead With Serum
Brands looking to target audiences who prefer premium products can launch an effective face serum first. Once they position their serum strongly in the market, they can launch the face cream later.
Mass Market: Start With Cream
Brands that want to target a large audience can think of introducing a face cream first. They can introduce a face cream with multiple benefits and for specific skin types. Once the demand and sales increase, they can introduce their face serum to target the niche audiences.
Test Serum vs Cream Before Scaling
Brands can also launch one Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) in face cream and one SKU in face serum format. Then, they can check the response of their audience for each of these formats. Finally, after gauging the response, they can scale the product that has been most loved by the audience. They can also use the audience response to add more products to their lineup.
How Bo International Powers Your Serum–Cream Strategy?
At Bo International, we offer both face serums and face creams as per your requirements. We customise the formula or use ready-made serum or cream formulas as per your request. Our team helps you pick the best toners, creams, and serums as per your target audience.
We offer help with the formulation of anti-ageing, skin brightening, acne-control, and other specific requirements of brands. We also provide packaging, design, and marketing support according to your target market and price range. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services.
Face Serum vs Face Cream – FAQs For Skincare Brand Owners
Q1: Which Is Better: Face Serum vs Face Cream?
A1: Both face serums and face creams have their specific business advantages and challenges. Serums are formulated to address specific concerns, whereas creams are formulated to moisturise the skin and protect the skin barrier. So, you can choose the product that suits your requirements the most.
Q2: Can I Sell Only Serums Under My Brand Name?
A2: Yes, you can sell only serums under your brand name if your target audience expects premium offerings. However, a face cream will help you complete the skincare routine that most people like to follow.
Q3: Are Serums More Expensive Than Creams?
A3: Yes, serums are more expensive as they contain botanical extracts and actives. Also, they are concentrated and perceived as valuable. Yet, the final price depends upon your brand positioning and the number of actives used in the formula.
